Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-18
AN EVENT THAT SHOULD BE CELE-
DRAFTED

oAshA 6o'
The California and Oregon Railroad
nears completion. In the coming month
the first train through from Sacramento to
Portland, Oregon, will be sent out The
event will be one Of great moment to this
State, and 10 no part of it more important
than to Northern and Central California.
1t has long been looked forward to with
pleasurable anticipation when other sec
tions OF the State refused countenance and
support to the courageous builders of the
line; when vicious endeayors were being
made in Congress to cripple the building
of the road by Withdrawing the basis of
Its credit; Sacramento and the cities and
towns Of the Sacramento basin stood true
TO the great enterprise, and their people
spared no effort in resistance of the at
tempts made to crush the industry.
Now that it has been carried forward to
a triumphant conclusion, and the Gulf of
Mexico and the Columbia are about to be
united by the bond of rail communication !;
now that new artery of commerce is
about to begin its throbs through the entire
length Of the State, giving new vigor to
trade and new impetus to enterprise; now
that distance between California and Ore
gon is about to be eliminated, and the pro-
ducts of each State laid at the threshold Of
the other with but trifling lapse of time, it
is fitting that Sacramento and Northern
and Central California should appropri-
ately celebrate the laying of the last rail
The State Board Of Trade has arranged
to celebrate the event. That is right and
proper bat not enough. Red Bluff, Red
ding, Chico and Marysville will not permit
the day to close without manifestations of
satisfaction, but that is not enough; Sacra-
mento should independently, as well as
jointly with the others, celebrate the occa-
sion-not. perhaps, with mere flourish of
trumpets, but i'll a manner expressive of
sincerity and full realization of the i'm
mense Importance of the work to the trade
of this city. 1t is not too early to begin
preparations. 1t would not have been too
early to have set about making arrange
ments month ago. Our commercial men
and city authorities ought to take the lead.
They should be the first to greet the people
of Portland when the last spike is driven
They should be the first TO salute the final
stroke of the sledge with the answering
thunder of artillery. They should arrange
such Geographic communication that, as
the hammer falls to fasten the rail that is
to unite the capitals of Oregon and Cali
fornia, the blow should set in motion the
bells Of the city and announce to the peo-
pie the completion Of the work for which
they haveso long waited and so assiduously
labored
The closing of the little gap now re-
naming will, in fact, complete the link OF
Gordon of railway around the national
territory, by which it will be possible for
one to make the complete circuit from the
northern Atlantic seaboard, along the
northern outposts Of the nation, down the
Pacific, thence to the waters of the Gulf, and
skirting the southern line of the national
boundary reach the Atlantic again, and
follow it back to the point of beginning
without change of cars. Prediction, ;
quarter of century ago of the possibility
III such an achievement would have wor
for the prophet the pity of the people 70
his visionary" forecasts
In view of the new market to be opened
up to US, the new tide of tourist travel tina
Will flow through our valley, the new com
merce that will pulsate through the State
the vast Importance of this union O
the gulf with the Pacific Northwest, Sacra
mento, rs the capital of the State and Tia,
metropolis of the interior, ought to take
foremost part in celebrating the compile
ton of the road.
The San Francisco Ata remarks tina
the opening of the first division of tn,
Erie road twas deemed of such importanc,
that the ceremonies were graced by tn,
presence of Daniel Webster, then Secre
tary of State in Mr. Fillmore's Cabinet
and the great merchants of New York an,
statesmen of national fame joined in Civ
ing emphasis to the event" But how
much more important is the opening o
this new line to the State of California ant
to It's capital city, Let preparations b,
made for the event, and Sacramento b.
tirst and foremost to mark the day by fit